The first full week of NBA the playoffs are in the books, and our second prize has been announced! The toronto raptors scottish barnes was named 2022 Rookie of the Year (ROY) in the closest vote in nearly 20 years.
Barnes is the third Raptor to win the award, Damon Stoudamire in 1996 and Vince Carter in 1998 being the others, and the first to do so this century. Given this historic win and the fact that Barnes beat favorites like Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green, we decided to look at his win from a betting perspective.
At the start of the NBA season, the odds at DraftKings saw the top four favorites listed as Green (+200), Cunningham (+300), Jalen Suggs (+750) and Mobley (+1000). However, injuries and slow starts hurt Green, Cunningham and Suggs, while Mobley and Josh Giddey of the Oklahoma City Thunder impressed by winning Rookie of the Month for November in the Eastern and Western conferences, respectively.
Barnes was also a pleasant surprise from the start. During the preseason, the odds in fox bet for the fourth pick from Florida State University to win the ROY they were +1100. His pro debut saw him drop 12 points, nine rebounds and one assist. He followed that up with 25 points, 13 rebounds and two assists in his second game, and from there, his odds quickly narrowed.
We spoke to FOX Bet dealer Timme Wesselink to get his thoughts on the prize race odds.
“Barnes has been in the top three in the betting all season. He opened +1100 and gradually dropped early in the season to +275 around Christmas. Earlier in the year, he was back out at +800 around the break of the Game. All-Star, with Mobley seemingly taking full ownership of Rookie of the Year”.
Unsurprisingly, the change in odds was highly correlated with team play. The Raptors averaged around .500 through the first three quarters of the season, while the Cleveland Cavaliers spent much of that time in the top five of the Eastern Conference, due in part to Evan Mobley’s versatility and consistent play.
Also, Cade Cunningham started to turn it on after a slow start, which packed the race for ROY in the Eastern Conference, while Josh Giddey dominated the West-winning Rookie of the Month in November, December, January and February.
However, as we always say about the NBA, lines change fast. In the final stretch of the season, Mobley missed time with an ankle injury while Giddey was inactive. Cunningham came in strong, averaging 21.2 points and 6.7 assists per game after March 1, but Barnes was tough and consistent with 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game as he won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in February and March. . At the same time, the Raptors moved into the fifth seed in the East.
Normally defending the opposing team’s best perimeter scorers and providing plenty of offensive muscle, Barnes helped set the tone for a team heavy in length, athleticism and hustle. Oddly prepared for a rookie, he led Toronto in minutes played and finished in the top three in shooting from the field, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, assists and blocks.
When questioned in early March With Mobley at -769 and Barnes at +700, FOX Bet sports trader Dylan Brossman told us:
“Although Evan Mobley is the heavy favorite to win the award, the majority of the tickets are in the hands of Scottie Barnes. He is also FOX Bet’s biggest responsibility. In the five games since the All-Star break, Barnes has averaged 20 points, nine rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals and a block”.
Down the stretch, Barnes was neck-and-neck with Mobley, but no doubt his team’s overall success, and his contribution to it, played a big factor in him bringing the ROY back to the Six.
“Cleveland’s collapse in the last month of the season and Toronto’s rise possibly changed the outcome. Mobley’s injury late in the season didn’t help his case either,” Wesselink stated before continuing, “Barnes is a worthy winner. as he exceeded their expectations and has been invaluable to the Raptors’ amazing season.”
In the closest race in 20 years, Barnes got 48 of 100 first-place votes and Mobley came in second with 43 first-place votes. Cunningham was third with nine first-place votes.
“Scottie Barnes was a surprising winner,” exclaimed Wesselink. “FOX Bet saw most of the money in Mobley and Cunningham, so Barnes was a good result in the end.”
However, he made sure to add: “We also operate in Canada with a sister brand, Barnes was a huge loss for us there.”
If any of you players had put $10 up on those pre-season odds, you would have put $150 back for Scottie to win the prize! Who said all Canada had to offer was maple syrup?
So there you have it. His ROY 2022 Scottie Barnes is now trying to keep his season alive against the championship-contending Philadelphia 76ers. After missing a couple of games with an ankle injury, he’s back and ready to add to his historic rookie campaign.
If you like the Raptors to continue their amazing season, be sure to place your bets on fox bet!
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Reference-www.foxsports.com